Kyriakos Mitsotakis to block EU-Albania negotiations if...

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in his first presentation in Thessaloniki in the presence of all domestic and foreign media has warned that Greece will block the start of Tirana-EU negotiations if the Albanian government does not respect the minority rights of the Greeks

"As relating to Albania I will say this: there is no question of Greece agreeing to the start of EU-Albania negotiations if I do not see actions that will eliminate the discrimination that is being done to the Greek national minority in Albania" - Greece's prime minister said.

The head of the Greek government said he had discussed the matter during his recent visits with French President Macron, Dutch Prime Minister Route and German Chancellor Merkel.

"I am completely clear on this issue, I have transmitted it to both President Macron, the Dutch Prime Minister Route, and Chancellor Merkel after talks are expected at the European Council in October. We're not there yet. We will have to see a change in the attitude of the Albanian government towards the Greek national minority,” Mitsokatis said.

Mitsotaki's statement comes just weeks after warnings from Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias during the presentation of the new Greek government's program, while government sources say they have been attentive to the recent political developments in Albania.